The Bogun Beer Challenge

Hey Crew ... I have a number of beers up for review this weekend.  They are ... lets be honest ... the iconically Australian mainstream full strength bogun beers and include;

1. VB ... Victoria Bitter

2.  XXXX Bitter

3. Tooheys New

Let me know your thoughts on each of these beers and who you believe will rain supreme  in the comments below.  Looks like a great weekend for me!

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And the winner is ..... 

After careful and prolonged deliberation, I hereby declare the winner ... XXXX Bitter ....

What?  You might be thinking!  I am just as surprised as you.  I don't know if it's the beer or the fact that it was chilled to perfection, but this beer, mores o than the others just delivered.

1st. XXXX Bitter ... at it's best when super cold and icy!  .... 7 / 10

2nd. Tooheys New ... a good drop, but just felt lacking given it is higher priced than it's rivals .... 6.8 / 10

3rd. VB .. Victoria Bitter  ... it's not what it used to be and clearly this beer is no longer as relevant as it used to .... 6.6 / 10

XXXX Island

Arguably the best ever beer promo, XXXX Island offers the ultimate mates trip away!

Why We Love James Squire

To put is simply, when it comes to a craft beer range, nobody does it better!  

What I have been most impressed by in recent years is the ability of the brand to expand and grow whilst staying true to it's roots.  Let's face it, most big brand names want to get bigger and make more money - fair enough!  James Squire though, has done it in a manner that adds value to the brand and takes consumers along for the journey.

How does it rate?

James Squire - Brand Overall - 9 / 10

James Squire - Nine Tales Amber Ale - 8.3 / 10

James Squire - The Chancer Golden Ale - 9.2 / 10

James Squire - Four Wives Pilsenser - 7.9 / 10

James Squire - Stow Away IPA - 7.5 / 10

James Squire - Jack of Spades Porter - 8.9 / 10

James Squire - Sun Down Australian Lager - 9.3 / 10

James Squire - Orchard Crush Apple Cider - 8.1 / 10

Overall, James Squire is a great craft beer.  It's not for everyone, but there is something in this range for most.  With the new variety case it's worth exploring if you haven't tried it before.  You'll also find that many pubs are really getting into the whole beer and food matching experiences which are also worth a try.

The new variety case is a great opportunity for those of us who are a little more risk adverse to try a few different beers without the risk of having to buy a whole carton.  No doubt these will be available in limited supply or limited outlets but keep on the lookout for them.

Want More Info

Visit ... www.maltshovel.com.au

BEER OF THE WEEK

This weeks "BEER OF THE WEEK" goes to 

... Heineken ...

Thanks to the James Bond 007 tie in, this is the global in beer at the moment.  

Brewed by: Heineken International

Brewed in: Amsterdam

Alcohol: 5.00%

Type: German Pilsener

Tasting Notes: 

Heineken is the world’s original and most popular premium lager beer, defined by its crisps, refreshing and full flavoured taste. It has been brewed using only 4 natural ingredients to a recipe that has remained unchanged since 1873.

Pairing: 

It’s refreshing quality means Heineken is the perfect match for seafood, red meat, and other dishes with strong natural flavours.

Beer Book Rating ........ 9 / 10